DA’s office launches animal welfare task force in region

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — Looking to strengthen and better coordinate the work of animal welfare professionals in Hampshire and Franklin counties, the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office is launching a task force to share information and provide training.A...

North County Notebook: Feb. 6, 2024

Art class to share blotted linetechnique NORTHFIELD — Retired art teacher Ginny Rockwood will teach a class on the blotted line technique at the Northfield Senior Center on Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon.The blotted line technique, once used...

COVID risk dips to ‘moderate’ for first time since early December

By CHRIS LARABEE

For the first time since the beginning of December, the COVID-19 transmission risk for the four communities in the Contact Tracing Collaborative — Greenfield, Deerfield, Montague and Sunderland — has decreased from “high” to “moderate.” Wastewater...

White Bridge between Greenfield and Turners Falls closed through Feb. 8

TURNERS FALLS — The White Bridge that connects Greenfield and Turners Falls over the Connecticut River will be closed daily through Thursday, Feb. 8, according to the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT).The closure, which began on Monday, is...

U.S. Navy dirigible once flew over Orange in multi-state flight

By CARLA CHARTER

It was not a bird, a plane or a UFO that Orange residents spied in the skies on Nov. 20, 1923.Instead, the Orange Enterprise and Journal on Nov. 23, 1923, reported that the U.S. Navy dirigible, the Shenandoah, which was out on a 13-and ½-hour flight...

102nd Winter Carnival unites community with ‘Season Switch-Up’ theme

By BELLA LEVAVI and AALIANNA MARIETTA

GREENFIELD — Neighbors and newcomers gathered at Beacon Field on Sunday to play Tug-of-War and cheer on dogs of all sizes that were competing in the K-9 Keg Pull to close out the 102nd annual Winter Carnival.“It brings people together,” said...

Multiple departments respond to Greenfield garage fire

GREENFIELD — No one was injured during a first-alarm fire at a commercial garage at 130 Laurel St. late Saturday night, according to Greenfield Fire Capt. Dan Smith.The incident was reported as a roof fire at around 10:30 p.m. The blaze was described...

State report emphasizes flexibility, tech in education

By SAM DRYSALE

BOSTON — Following a presentation on reforming education to embrace artificial intelligence, build more flexibility into the school day, and fundamentally rethink how and where students learn, the state’s K-12 education commissioner agreed that...

Mohawk Trail, Hawlemont districts launch Phase 2 of sustainability study

By BELLA LEVAVI

As part of an effort to find ways to reorganize to better address the hardships faced by rural schools, the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont regional school districts have initiated Phase 2 of a sustainability study led by educational resource company...

Opioid settlements announced with two companies

By MICHAEL P. NORTON

Massachusetts will receive $8 million to address the opioid crisis as part of a $350 million national settlement with Publicis Health.Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced the settlement locally, saying it resolves the state’s litigation against...

Historic guideboard on Shutesbury town common packed up for repairs

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — An historic guideboard on the town common since 1837, helping travelers to navigate to Massachusetts communities both near and far, is temporarily absent from the green as a restoration project begins.Last Tuesday morning, the wooden...

Greenfield Notebook: Feb. 5, 2024

Learn about Point-in-Time Count GREENFIELD — Volunteers, staff and members of the local Youth Action Board will be at the Greenfield Public Library on Monday, Feb. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to speak with people experiencing homelessness about the...

Neal, McGovern: $78B tax bill a win for families

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL and CHRIS LARABEE

SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal touted a new tax relief bill passed by the House of Representatives this week, and shared his views on U.S. foreign policy during a gathering with the press on Friday morning.Speaking at the atrium inside the...

PHOTO: Winter fun in full swing

Pair of projects ‘urgent’ at Just Roots farm

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — With “urgent” work needed on its historic barn, Just Roots farm invited local, state and federal stakeholders for a visit on Friday morning to take a look at the failing structure and to discuss potential funding streams.The farm has...

Nearly $152K to help bridge digital divide at Franklin County senior centers

By CHRIS LARABEE

Senior centers around Franklin County are preparing to dip their toes into the digital and hybrid worlds thanks to $151,500 in grant funding from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.Through the agency’s Hybrid Programming for Councils on Aging grant...

Senate passes gun law reforms, 37-3

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — The Senate on Thursday night approved a sweeping overhaul of state firearms laws, setting up talks with the House that could lead to a major new law later this spring or summer.The Senate bill seeks to rein in untraceable ghost guns, bans...

Community gathering to inform Greenfield master plan update

GREENFIELD — The city of Greenfield and The Conway School invite residents to attend an interactive meeting to reflect on the city’s past and present, and envision its future. The gathering, the first of two related to the master plan update, will be...

Charlemont cell tower bylaws head to Town Meeting

By BELLA LEVAVI

CHARLEMONT — The Planning Board has recently finalized new bylaws for personal wireless service facilities and is poised to present them at a public hearing, with plans to bring them to Annual Town Meeting this spring.“In general, it is very positive...

Leyden fire chief resigns; assistant chief expected to be promoted next week

By CHRIS LARABEE

LEYDEN — With its fire chief resigning, Leyden has wasted no time in finding a successor, as it aims to promote its assistant fire chief next week.Fire Chief Nikolas Adamski submitted his intention to resign from the top spot of the Fire Department...